Welcome to the
Foundation for Paddle Steamers Worldwide InternationalWebsite incorporating
the Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape database
ADDING SOMETHING EXTRA TO A BOAT TRIP........
Going on a boat trip is an essential part of
a holiday
in many areas. Many people go on a boat trip because it is "one of the
things to do" - and thoroughly enjoy it. For some it is a matter of doing
the trip, seeing the sights and then moving on. For others there is a desire
to repeat the experience. For some of these, it is the ship itself which becomes
the main point of attraction. Everyone has their favourites, but paddle steamers
have been able to attract enthusiasts in disproportionate numbers.
From
the earliest days of steamships, commuters and tourists looked forward to frequent
introduction of new vessels, incorporating the latest of passenger comforts
and ever increasing speeds. It was only when it became apparent that paddle
steamers were giving way to motor ships, or not even replaced at all, did perceptions begin to change. The
march of "progress" was, however, deemed inevitable and motor ships,
including car ferries, were accepted
alongside the older paddle steamers. Only when it appeared that
paddle steamers might disappear altogether did the preservationist movement
begin to take hold. In the United Kingdom, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society
was established in 1959 at a time when there were still numerous paddle steamers
in existence, but it was clear to a small number of enthusiasts that their time
might be increasingly limited. They were right. Economics dictated the demise
of the paddle steamer - unless special measures were taken to preserve them.
The gradual increase in public interest in "heritage" matters since
the 1960s, a decade when modernisation for modernisation's sake was still the
accepted philosophy, has meant a complete change in fortune for paddle steamers.
It is not just a committed band of enthusiasts which keeps the fortunes
of paddle steamers so bright; it is a recognition amongst the public that "paddle
steamers" are something different and as such, quite interesting in themselves.
This has led to local agencies and public bodies recognising their value for
developing tourism in their areas.
.......but why do some people become life-long
enthusiasts ?
There is no point trying to analyse why. Either
you are or you are not and there is rarely a rational explanation
for it. If you are, you will try and sail on paddle
steamers as often as possible and time your excursions so that you
are aboard a paddler and not a motor vessel.
The picture,
left, shows the webmaster as a young child in the mid 1960s watching
passengers disembark from the paddler Talisman at Rothesay on the
Firth of Clyde. Talisman was not even a steamer, but an interesting
ship in its own right, having been built with a revolutionary diesel-electric
drive system in 1935. It was on days out like this on the Clyde
that the webmaster came to love the paddle steamers, Talisman,
and the magnificent turbine steamers which sailed alongside them.
Motor vessels and car ferries were also in operation and whilst
they were an important and interesting part of the Clyde shipping scene, they never
exerted that grip of loving attention which the others did.
Whilst
it helps to "catch" the fascination for paddlers as a
youngster, there is no age limit......!
HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH CHARACTERISE
A PADDLE STEAMER TRIP
The mesmerising beat of the paddle
floats against
shimmering waters allied to the smooth and virtually vibration-free operation
of steam engines make paddle steamers quite different from modern
diesel-powered vessels. In the webmaster's view there is something special about watching
paddle steamers' magnificent engines turn in hypnotic rhythm with the ship's engineer keeping
a close eye on their progress and operating the various levers necessary to
bring them to a halt and to get back to speed after calling at a pier. Paddlers bring an added element of interest to the experience of
cruising down a river valley, crossing a lake or exploring a coastline.
PS Schiller heads out across lake Lucerne from Vitznau with next
stop Buochs as she heads deeper into alpine foothills. A pleasant
breeze and attractive scenery en route to a charming resort or start
point for a traditional hike. An ideal day out.
The essence of a paddle steamer outing : Sitting out on deck
and viewing pleasant lakeside villages as the ship pulls in to the
local pier. Jump off at a chosen spot to catch the local atmosphere
and sample a local cafe. This is Herrliberg, near Zurich, Switzerland
The unenclosed transversely-aligned steam engines are what
makes a paddle steamer different to a motor ship. These are the
triple-expansion, three-crank engines of Scotland's PS Waverley,
an attraction in themselves for many a traveller.
Engines are not a major attraction for everyone, so lounges
and catering facilities have to be to a high standard. PS Stadt Rapperswil's upper deck
has recently been refurbished and enclosed with panoramic windows.
Waiters are on hand to serve drinks and snacks. Wine glasses are
already set out
Swiss steamers' main restaurants are of particular interest,
evoking the original atmosphere of the "Belle Epoche"
of the early 20th centur and often incorporating original items.
However, it is the classical lines of the paddle steamer against the
backdrop of magnificent scenery, such as with PS Schiller at Brunnen,
which together make such a "boat trip" a little bit more
special
The
paddle steamers in operation today have all been subject to continuous maintainance and most
have been subject to major overhauls which have been so comprehensive
that they are effectively "new" vessels, to a traditional
design and incorporating important elements saved from the original
vessel alongside some of the latest marine technology. In recent
renovations of Swiss steamers, almost everything except the main
hull structural elements and the iconic steam engines have been
replaced, the new materials faithfully reproducing the old whilst
incorporating new elements such as disabled toilets and the greatly
improved catering and dining facilities expected in today's world.
In some cases work has aimed to undo the negative effects of earlier
changes to the vessels' historical appearance.
Paddle
Steamers operate in some of the most beautiful of holiday destinations including the
Swiss and Italian lakes, the river Elbe around Dresden (photo, left) and down to "Saxon
Switzerland", the magnificent city of Prague and upstream to the Slapy
Dam, Scotland's Firth of Clyde, Norway's
Lake Mjosa, the Austrian Danube and lakes in the Salzkammergut. In these areas
you can enjoy a fantastic holiday and use paddle steamers for short or day-long
excursions at your convenience. Paddle Steamers are
a special class of ship providing a high-quality lake, river and coastal cruising experience
with the added benefit of maintaining and demonstrating historically significant
propulsion methods in a modern environment.
In public service,
their operating companies and website links (includes motor paddlers) Paddlers under
restoration for a possible return to service or still awaiting their fate Paddle
Steamers decommissioned and now with new roles as restaurants, museums etc
Projects
for new paddle steamers
Vessels scrapped in recent years
By country and area : Paddle
Steamers and service operators of the past General Description and
link to view Operational and preserved paddle steamer engines
The ultimate fleet of coastal cruising steamers Search
here for British Paddle Steamers The webmaster's photograph
collection in thumbnail form Preserved
paddle Tugs Steamships
or diesel conversions propelled by a stern wheel (Mississippi-style) Organisations you
can join or channel financial assistance through
Articles and photographs
: current issues and vessel profiles Personal comments on matters of steamer preservation interest -
your comments welcomed ! Sites
listed in the database plus other sites of interest (European ships)
Clyde and other passenger
turbine
steamers, surviving ferries and ocean liners Vessels for which
there are photographs in the Tramscape collection only Link to Tramscape's extensive
tramway photograph collection
